Declaration of Death - Deaths on public roads
Verified 26 avril 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
General case
It's a healthcare professional who records the death and establishes the death certificate.
The health care practitioner may be one of the following:
- Doctor
- Retired doctor
- Student in class of 3e cycle of medical studies in France
- Foreigners diploma practitioner outside European Union authorized to pursue a journey of consolidation of medical skills
- Qualified volunteer nurse, subject to conditions.
Violent death
In case of violent death (e.g. accidental death, suicide), alert the police or the national gendarmerie.
Funerals can only take place after obtaining judicial authorization, called record for burial.
It shall be established by a judicial police officer, on the order of public prosecutor.
After a doctor's report, any adult can declare the death, preferably a relative. For example, a parent or person with vital statistics information.
However, if the cause of death is suspicious, the police forces take care of the declaration of death.
FYI
Specific rules apply in certain cases, for example at sea.
General case
To report a death, you must surrender to the town hall where the death occurred, irrespective of the nationality of the deceased.
You must present yourself with the following documents:
- Your ID
- If possible, the death certificate issued by the doctor, police station, or gendarmerie
- Any document concerning the identity of the deceased (family record, identity document or birth certificate for example).
Suspicious death
The police officer shall transmit the information to the registrar of the place where the person died.
He writes the death certificate and informs the registrar of the residence of the deceased.
Following the declaration of death, the City Hall establishes a death certificate.
Death must be certain and established by examination of the body of the deceased.
In case of disappearance, you must go through a judicial declaration of death.
Who shall I contact
There's no reporting time.
You should do this as soon as possible to then perform the other death-related procedures.
Please note
The mortuary chamber of a health facility receives the deceased free of charge for 3 days (then at the daily rate). The reception in a private funeral room (or funeral home) is paid from the 1ster day. In addition, admission must be made within 48 hours of death. Conservation care is not mandatory.
Death certificate
Certificate of Death (Article L2223-42)
Post-death operations
Conditions for issuing a death certificate by a nurse
FAQ
Ministry of Economy
